Unit 2: AP Government Vocab

Safe Seat

an electoral district in a legislative body (fully secure for party or representative)

Congressional Oversight

power of the U.S. congress to monitor and change the actions of the executive branch

Bureaucratic Rule Making

makes rules that affect how programs operate

White House Staff

entity within the executive office of the President of the United States
- advise president
- help the president carry responsibilities
- head of executive office of the President

Politico

elected representatives must make political decisions about how to vote

Conference Committee

a temporary panel composed of house and senate confides which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers

Docket

list of potential cases that reach the supreme court

Office of Management & Budget

presidential staff agency that serves as a clearing-house for budgetary requests and manage improvements for gov. agencies

Precedent

a decision made by a high court such as a circuit court of appeals or the supreme court that is binding in all other federal courts

Congressional Budget Office

nonpartisan agency of congress that analysis presidential budget recommendations & estimates the cost of proposed legislation

Filibuster

a strategy employed in the U.S. senate where by a minority can delay a vote on proposed legislation by making long speeches or introduce irrelevant issues

Civil Service

federal employees who work for gov through a competitive, not political, selection process

Federal Register

an official document published every weekday that lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments & regulatory agencies

Gerrymander

divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts

Party Carcus

a meeting of members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and develop party policy

Executive Office of the President

the cluster of presidential agencies that help the president carry out responsibilities

Judicial Review

the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a gov. regulation that in the opinion of judges conflicts with the U.S. constitution, or in a state court, the state constitution

Gross Domestic Product

one of the primary indicators used to gauge the health of a country economy

Amicus Curiae Brief

a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it

Regulation

a policy that encourages or discourages certain behavior by impairing a legally

Closed Rule

a procedural rule in the House of Reps that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the commitee reporting bills may offer ammendments

Treaty

Formal public agreement between the U.S. and 1+ nations that must be approved by 2/3 of the senate

Executive Privilege

power to keep executive communicator confidential especially relation to national security

Logrolling

practice of exchanging forces

Fiscal Policy

gov. policy that attempt to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending

Necessary & Proper Clause

a clause in the constitution (A.1, S.8, C.3) setting fourth the implied powers of congress

Divided Government

governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency & the other controls one or both houses of congress

Rally Point

a rise in public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans "rally' round the flag" & the chief executive

Cabinet

the advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, & a few officials selected by the president

Senate Confirmation

A.2, S.2 provides that the president "shall nominate and appoint high gov. officials"

National Security Council

Key coordinating agency intended to help integrate foreign, military, & economic policies that affect national security

Tariff

a tax levied on imports to help protect a nation's business from foreign competition

Chief of Staff

the head of the White House Staff and arguably the president's most powerful advisor

Signing Statement

written comment issued by a president at the time of signing legislation

Impeachment

formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official

Rule of Four

refers to a convention that for a certiorari be granted by the U.S. Supreme Court, four justices must vote in favor of the grant

Pocket Veto

the constitution grants the president 10 days to review a measure passed by the congress.

Entitlements

the kind of Gov. program that provides individuals with personal financial benefits to which an indefinite # of potential beneficiaries have a legal right when eligibility is met

Implied Powers

powers not explicitly mentioned in the constitution but assumed due to the necessary and proper clause

Federal Mandate

requirement the gov. imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds

Whip

a party leader who is the liaison between the leadership & rank-&-file in the legislature

Enumerated Powers

the powers explicitly given to congress in the U.S. constitution

Presidential Honeymoon

period at the beginning of a new president's term during which they enjoy positive relations with press & congress

Cloture

the only procedure by which the senate can vote to place a time limit on the consideration of a bill or other matters threfore becoming a filibuster